Singapore Inflation Accelerates in February

SINGAPORE—Singapore's inflation hit an eight-month high in February, buttressing expectations that the central bank will maintain a tightening bias in its monetary policy when it meets in April. A rise in prices in February had been expected because the Lunar New Year fell within the month and vehicle ownership costs had increased steadily, but the 4.9% year-on-year jump in the country's Consumer Price Index was well above January's 3.6% rise and the 4.1% increase forecast by nine economists in a Dow Jones Newswires poll. Economists said the elevated inflation could cement for another six months the Monetary Authority of Singapore's ...